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Cogeneration boilers
Brooklyn
We're contemplating making the move to gas, for our boiler.I can of course go with a straight conversion, or I can explore one of the alternatives such as cogeneration. This would increase the cost and complexity a bit, but on paper at least, shows good savings to be had in the long run. But on paper doesn't always reflect reality, so i'd like to hear any experiences.Is the tech "there yet" or would I be guinae pigging something that isn't ready for prime time? More»
3:56 AM 05/16/2012
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Do your research into CHP (Combined Heat & Power). It is legal in NYC. Many of the large buildings in downtown Brooklyn feature these units. It's expensive and not for the tight walleted notr the feint of heart but it is a REALLY great system if you have the need. -Steam Man See More » -
Roth Oil Tanks Approved for Use in NYC
I just wanted to give the BS community a heads up on something helpful to those of us with those big horizontal oil tanks taking up space in our basements: Roth double wall oil tanks have been approved for use in NYC. Instead of sitting horizontal, these are vertical and run to the floor, taking up a smaller footprint. Pricing is reasonable as well since they can be ordered and carried into the basement as opposed to having to be welded in situ. I just wanted to share this with everyone as I think it is great that we have an alternative to the tanks ... More»
7:57 PM 03/19/2012
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Steve, Currently, horizontal oil tanks are constructed to fit through doorways in one piece. If you need one bigger than say 28" or perhaps even 36" you aren't going to be getting that via mail order. Besides, if it's time for an oil tank replacement, it's time to convert to nat gas. See More » -
Recommendation for forced air install
Bedford Stuyvesant
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Extending top floor heating zone to a penthouse
I am thinking about adding a penthouse space to the top floor apartment. Our existing heating system is zoned by floor hot water baseboard. Will we need to add an independent zone to accomodate the penthouse -- meaning we need to run an extra pipe, etc. from the basement -- or can it be simply extended from the (current) top floor? Will we impact the system balance and/or efficiency by extending the zone to include both floors? If we do radiant heat in just the penhouse, will that make a difference (good or bad)? The total sq footage of the penthouse, wh... More»
12:32 PM 02/25/2012
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you are adding a substantial load to your existing heating plant, as well as incresing the head ...get someone in to make sure that the design and sizing of the system is appropriate. See More » -
main steam vent stuck in steam pipe
Bensonhurst
I have a vent at the end of my steam main that is stuck open and I am unable to unscrew it. It is screwed all the way down into the tee with no threads showing. I have sprayed it with WD-40 repeatedly and let it soak. I have used a crescent wrench and a pipe wrench but it still won't loosen. I am afraid if I put too much force on it, the vent will snap leaving the threads stuck in the tee.If it does snap what can I do to get the remaining threads out of the tee? How much would this cost if I just call a pipefitter or heating company to remove the ... More»
1:24 PM 02/13/2012
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WD-40 is useless. Get PB Blaster from an auto supply store or, better yet Kroil from their website: www.kanolabs.com . Give it several applications over a few days. If that doesn't work, you'll have to call a professional. Figure a minimum of $250 for labor for a licensed plumber. Or if you ca...... See More » -
Two Stage or Modulating Gas Furnace?
Bedford Stuyvesant
The old forced-air gas furnace in our future home (which appears to be 50+ years old) has been all but condemned by our home inspector. To make a long story short, the sellers aren't going to replace it and we'd like to do it this summer before next heating season.If you needed to replace both your hot water heater and your forced-air furnace, what direction would you go? Any brands/installers to recommend? Brands/installers to run from?For those of you that have actually had work like this done in the past, is the added expense of a modulating or tw... More»
7:20 AM 02/08/2012
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We used ALL H.V.A.C. to replace our forced air furnace and A/C system several years ago. They did a great job, gave us options and we continue to use them for maintenance. They have an ad on the Brownstoner page. See More » -
Best thermostat for steam heat
Bedford Stuyvesant
What's the best make/model of thermostat for gas-fired steam heat?we'd like to install the sensor in the tenant's apartment (parlor/top floor) and the control unit in the owner's apt (ground floor). Building is attached two-family row house, 2700 sq ft, one pipe system. More»
12:59 PM 02/01/2012
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Here ya go: "http://tekmarcontrols.com/hvacsystems/279.html" See More » -
Radiant Heat and Existing Parquet Floors
We recently converted two floors of our brownstone heating from oil burner to radiant heat on the recommendation of our plumber. The first floor was a gut renovation and we have not installed a new floor. The second floor where the radiant heat also exists has a 100 year old parquet floor which was recently restored. My wife was recently in a flooring store and what they told her was quite concerning about placing radiant heat under existing parquet flooring. We would like to know if anyone has experience with this. Will it damage the Parquet floor?... More»
10:42 PM 01/17/2012
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Please continue to tell us how this works out. If nothing happens in a year or two, I would like to know that. After 100 years, your floors may have been sanded a few times and are thinner than they were. Can you tell us about how thick your parquet is now? What is the surface temperature when t...... See More » -
Furnance is squealing
Queens
Overnight my Furnace started to make a squeling sounds. Sounds like the belt, but I can't be sure. It did get a checkup a few months ago and the tech didn't found anything wrong with it.Can anyone recomend a furnace technician (HVAC) or HVAC shop to come and take a look?Thanks! More»
10:47 AM 01/15/2012
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I use All HVAC who advertise here. it's probably the fan motor. Get it checked out before it flips the breaker due to friction See More » -
Gas smell in apartment when stove not in use?
For the last several weeks, we've noticed that certain areas of our apartment smell on and off of gas. It's completely unrelated to cooking, as we smell it sometimes in the middle of the night. We live on the first floor of a brownstone, and have also noticed that our boiler room in the basement smells strongly of gas. We read postings on brownstoner not to call National Grid because they just shut off your heat (and it's 15 degrees right now), but we're quite worried about this ongoing problem. Incidentally, our CO2 detectors have not gone off, eve... More»
9:41 AM 01/15/2012
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sheesh! call in a reputable plumber right away See More » -
How to sell new propane heater, purchased in error?
Crown Heights
Hello forum! I'm new. My husband and I are in a fix because we just bought an AO Smith propane water heater by mistake. Only after the plumbers had spent hours with it and installed it did they realize that it's useless to us because we have natural gas here (in Crown Heights, Brooklyn). It's now been unplugged etc and we've had an appropriate heater installed. BUT the company refuses to take it back because they say it's technically second-hand now, having been 'installed' by the plumbers. The plumbers say it's as good as new, so it's just a... More»
3:56 PM 01/13/2012
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Call A.O.Smith's area representative here: http://www.walesdarby.com They'll get the part number for you, give you a list price and tell you where to get it, which should be AF Supply or Park Slope Plumbing Supply. See More » -
Heating timer controls repair/replace?
Our heating contractor just recommended that we replace our timer controls, as they've been on the fritz and he says they only have a 10-year life anyhow. However, the bill for the replacement is very high, and it seems possible that the controls are not entirely fried, just partially so. Are there firms out there that do repairs to heating timer controls? More»
12:29 PM 01/06/2012
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Yes. It is best of you call the Heat-Timer company directly and have the unit factory serviced. They have service people all around NYC all the time. http://www.heat-timer.com/en/Contact.aspx Heat-Timer has its place, but most people who buy them only do so because they dont know the options.
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Baseboard Water Heater
Gowanus
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So, after all this: http://forum.brownstoner.com/question/IiECkQAFP7g=/boiler-question , you're still asking for answers about your heating system? Who the heck is your plumber? See More » -
Heat not keeping up with thermostat
Brownstoners: I would love your thoughts here. This morning at 8am, my thermostat indicated a room temperature of 65, whereas it was set to go to 71 starting at 6am. The rest of the morning, the radiators were alternating between tepid and very warm. By the time I left the house at 9, it was 66 degrees. At the middle of the night, the thermostat is set to 65, at 4am it goes to 68 (one of my upstairs tenants has an early job), and at 6am it goes to 71. The thermostat sits in probably the warmest part of the apartment: smack in the middle, not near ... More»
10:47 AM 01/04/2012
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It does take a while for temperatures to change once heat turns on and, well, its been really cold out. I just had to purge the air in my hot water system when one zone was consistently tepid. After that the hot water flowed when the thermostat called for it. On our baseboards there is a valve at e...... See More » -
most efficient way to set thermostat?
we have a new burnham gas boiler and a programmable thermostat and our house is four floors plus basement. what's the most efficent way to program the thermostat? is it better to have it at a constant temp or is it better to turn in down lower and turn it on manually when the house feels too cool? we have a child home during the day so turning it off during the day is not an option. thanks in advance! More»
8:00 AM 12/27/2011
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I hate this conversation, but i have to ask: Do you have steam or hot water heat? See More »
